3. Contracting Object Pronouns

Question 1

Object pronouns are words such as Me, Us, You, Him/Her/It and They.

Answer 1

The Creole object pronouns are Mwen (Me), Nou (Us), Ou (You), Li (Him/Her/It ) and Yo (Them).

The key point to keep in mind throughout this lesson is that you can only contract object pronouns after a word that ends with a vowel.

Question 2

Only contract an object pronoun after a word that ends with a vowel

This applies to both types of vowels. Now, the two types of Creole vowels are nasal and non-nasal vowels.

Answer 2

The nasal vowels are an, en and on. The non-nasal vowels are a, e, è, i, o, ò and ou.

You can contract object pronouns after words that end with any of those vowels.

Question 3

Contraction for Object Pronouns

1. Give me
2. He takes you
3. My bread
4. My gift

Answer 3

1. Ban m (Ban mwen)
2. Li pran w (Li pran ou)
3. Pen m (Pen m)
4. Kado m (Kado mwen)

Question 4

Never contract the object pronoun “YO”

Answer 4

Don’t contract yo when using it as an object pronoun

When yo is used as an object pronoun, it means them.

Question 5

1. He buys them
2. He takes them
3. He sends them
4. He changes them

Never Contract the Object Pronoun Yo

Answer 5

1. Right: Li achte yo
   Wrong: Li achte y
2. Right: Li pran yo
   Wrong: Li pran y
3. Right: Li voye yo
   Wrong: Li voye y
4. Right: Li chanje yo
   Wrong: Li chanje y

Question 6

Don’t Contract Object Pronouns After “Nan” and “Sou”

You must not contract object pronouns after the Creole prepositions nan and sou even though they end with a vowel.

Answer 6

Contracting object pronouns after those words causes confusion.

Question 7

1. Trust in him
2. The sandal is on it

Don’t Contract Object Pronouns After “Nan” and “Sou”

Answer 7

1. Right: Kwè nan li
   Wrong: Kwè nan l
2. Right: Sandal la sou li
   Wrong: Sandal la sou l

Question 8

Warning Be Extra Careful When Contracting the Word “Pou”

Answer 8

You can only contract pou when it is used as a conjunction.

When pou is used as a conjunction, it can mean in order to, in order for or so that.

Question 9

1. In order for you to live

2. In order for us to pass

Answer 9

»•« Contraction «•» No Contraction

1. »•« Pou w ka viv
   «•» Pou ou ka viv
2. »•« Pou n ka pase,
   «•» Pou nou ka pase,

Question 10

They need to work hard in order for them to find it…..

Never contract yo even when it comes after pou

Answer 10

Right: Yo dwe travay di pou yo ka jwenn li
Wrong: Yo dwe travay di pou y ka jwenn li